Aftermath

The rising sun streamed through the curtains, casting a warm glow over the room as Greg rose from his bed, the dream still haunting him.

He moved through the morning routine in a daze, his mind wrestling with the realization that, in the heat of his fevered imagination, he had allowed himself to cross a line that he had sworn he never would.

As he slipped from his room, his movements quiet and stealthy, Greg could feel the weight of his actions bearing down on him. With each step, he felt the distance between himself and the forbidden dream widening, yet the memory of it refused to be forgotten.

The early morning air was crisp and cool, a stark contrast to the fevered heat of the night before. Greg pulled his coat tightly around himself as he made his way down the winding driveway, the sounds of the rustling leaves around him drowning out the racing thoughts in his head.

The world outside his window was a blur of greens and browns, the towering trees and winding roads a familiar yet u